Rob Burton is a classical saxophonist who received critical acclaim when he reached the Grand Final of the BBC Young Musician competition in 2018. On March 21st this year he will be performing a world premiere in the fantastic Southwell Minster. Rob is thrilled to be playing the Paul Carr Saxophone Concerto which was originally composed for one of the world’s most famous oboist, Nicholas Daniel.
Nicholas personally suggested to the composer that he should make a version of it for soprano saxophone and specifically for Rob Burton as he thought that Rob would respond to both the vitality and emotional strengths of the piece. “The mellifuous beauty of the soprano sax is not a million miles away from that of the oboe, and with an orchestra of just strings, I feel it will suit the buoyancy of the outer movements and the intense evocation of the second very well indeed” says Paul Carr.
Nicholas Daniel says of Rob “He is an outstanding musician of real quality and depth. When discussing the Oboe Concerto with the composer one day, I had an instinct that Rob would bring the joy, the sadness, and then in the last movement, the open warmth of Paul’s beautiful concerto to life on the Sax. I wouldn’t normally suggest pieces written for me for other instruments to play, but on this occasion I’m genuinely an admirer of Rob’s playing and I know he will do the concerto beautifully. Honestly, the piece deserves to be more widely heard, so I’m happy he’s playing it for that reason too.”
Rob Burton's technique, playing and virtuosity has gone from strength to strength since playing in the BBC Young Musician Grand Final 20 months ago. Now in his third year at the Royal Academy of Music Rob is taught saxophone by Huw Wiggin and also travels to Zurich for lessons with Lars Mlekusch. Over this short period Rob has performed at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, Southwark Cathedral and as a soloist with the ‘Orchestra of the City’, Jersey Symphony Orchestra and numerous others.
Rob is thrilled to be playing at Southwell Minister with the English Pro Musica String Orchestra and also the fabulous Nottingham Trent University Chamber Choir.